Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-04-04
WHO KISSANE REALLY IS.
a wealthy Farmer, known BY the
Name Of Rogers, Of S0nOma, Cal.

A special from San Francisco 10 the New Yorl
Herald, dated April 2, says: At last the mystery
Is solved, and the question, ''Who Is Kissane?'
that set the city by the ears for the past week. Il
answered william kIssase Is known here as
VIM. K Rogers, q wealthy farmer of Sonoma
county and the discovery has proven less exciting
than the guessing Stfll, there are many strongly
romantic features In the story, not the leas,
remarkable being the fact that Kissane has a
brother living IN San Francisco under another
name who is one Of her most influential citizens
II Is this brothers influence, embracing II does
railroad and legal and Masonic circles that has SO
erectually stopped the publication OF the expose
Although the name was known last night and
although Il Is known that more than one paper
had the tun story in type, not one word was
printed this morning, ana this evening the New
York dispatches concerning the matter were sup
pressed. German paper-the Denokrut- alone
broke the compact OF silence, but no notice has
been taken OF the matter
KtSanes story IS this: When liberated from
Sing Sing he came to California, and finding
walkers iihbuStering expedition to Mexico In pro
gress enrolled himself He was one OF walkers
boldeSt neutenanIs and fought brayely az Topaz
and along that fatal march across the Sonora
desert he had added Rogers to his name and
was breveted BY the filibuSter chief as colonel
After the collapse of Walkers enyasion Rogers
returned 10 San Francisco penEileSs ana entered
merchants store as porter From this he rose 10
be clerk, and, having saved little money, went
20 Virginia City. where in company with two men
named GrfsSom and Henderson. he purchased Q
mine. After being reduced to great straightss and
Just as they were about TO give up their mine ~
began to pan out wei and soon paid them $1,000
q month. kiSSane, or Rogers, gathered IN several
hundred thousand dollars Henderson wandered
% and GrissOm died In poorhouse.
Rogers, with his share, bought the old sun
estate, neat Sonoma, and settled down into coun.
try life As W. 4. Rogers he became firm friend
OF Colonel Peter DOnohue. and Was associated with
him in railroad building In 1878. He became
In 1870, and has served without interruption ever
since. -.
Though the present disclosure is the first IN the
nature OF a public sensation 1t is by no means the
first with which he has been threatened. In q
quarrel with Sonoma county paper In 1873.
Rogers career was limited at, and from what can
bied. He is a big tall fellow, carrying hts years
and experience wonderfully Wen, hives IN gooo
style and is the father of two children. and step,
father OF two grown up daughters, having married
a widow. He enjoys the reputation or being an
extremely charitable and most frdulgent parent
Kissane'S family reaches from high TO low. At the
top stands the extremely prominent citizen re-
ferred TO, next comes Rogers and last comes a
teaInsIer also living in san Francisco, VINO SUN
keeps the name OF kiSsane- The eldest hlSSane
married twice, his second wife being the mother
o. the influential citizen referred 10, so tnas
between him and Rogers half brotherhood only
exists.
LISsASRs PART d THE MARTHA WASHINGTON DIS
Kissanes connection with the burning OF the
steamer Martha Washington Is further explained
By Cleveland dispatch, which states that kis-
sane In 1851 was engaged with others In the
wholesale boot and shoe business In Cincinnati
and formed conspiracy to defraud insurance
companies. They purchased the steamer MARTHA
Washington" loaded her with cargo Whlcn they
invOiced az boots, shoes and wool, but which was
composed OF boxes flied with rubbish, and got the
captain 20 fire her when en- route. Sixteen nVes
were lost. The insurance companies were ABOUT
20 pay the claims when Sidney Burton, one OF His
sanes creditors communicated his suspicious 10
the companies, and then devoted himself 10 the
task OF ferreting out the crime. Strange TO say,
In spite Of the testimony, the jury brought In
verdict OF acuuirtal